Bristol swaps car parks for bicycle racks

Bristol City Council is making steps to make the city more cycle friendly, including upping the number of cycling stands – at the expense of car parking spaces, a reported in local newspaper, the Evening Post.

Two car parking spaces will be dropped from locations around the city, allowing 72 more bikes to be parked in the centre in six stands in six locations and two bikes each stand.

Only 12 car parking spaces – generating approximately £35,000 for the council – will be lost to accommodate the extra bike spaces. The bike spaces will be free-of-charge for users. The council says that the income from the car bays won't be lost, with drivers parking elsewhere.

Jon Rogers, cabinet member for care and health, said: "Thanks to Cycling City, there are thousands less cars on the streets of Bristol at rush hour. It's very good news for everybody travelling into the city.

"Five thousand less cars means considerably less congestion whichever way you travel. And we are obviously confident that there is plenty of capacity to lose the modest number of car spaces to ease residents' cycle parking headaches."